The Trouble With Perfection

Hello! How was your Monday? If it wasn’t that good at least it’s Tuesday which means one step closer to the weekend :). Today’s post is all about the trouble with perfection. We’re bombarded with images of what success looks like and that you have to be perfect in order to be successful. This inevitably makes you feel like you’re a failure and not good enough. This is so true for those of us who are over the age of 30. If you haven’t accomplished what society says we should have around this age then, we’re deemed imperfect. Read on for my thoughts on the trouble with perfection.

The Trouble With Perfection

Perfect Imperfections

Do you see the photo above? What is it that you like about it? Is it the overgrown trees? The burnt out walls? Or maybe all of the above? This is actually St Dunstan-in-the-East and it’s a location that a lot of people visit for photoshoots, myself included (here). This used to be a church and it got destroyed in a fire yet people are drawn to it.

This place has a lot of people visit to take photos, have lunch or just enjoy the peaceful oasis in the middle of the busy city. It used to be a church and got destroyed in a fire yet people are drawn to its beauty and imperfections. This it got me thinking that if we are drawn by the imperfections of a burnt out building, then why are we so hell-bent on erasing the things that make us unique?

Stunted Growth

I could sit here and tell you that you’re perfect the way you are but I would be lying to myself and you. We’re all a work in progress! As we experience life, we grow more into the person we already are. The challenge is that we live in a world that tells us we need to be a certain way to succeed. We are shown images constantly of what perfection is then made to feel bad if we don’t achieve it. Our personal growth is stunted whilst we chase this perceived perfection. The energy we need to fuel our creativity is stunted and we are shells of ourselves.

What to do?

You can’t blame everything on social media, nor can you shut it out completely. What you can control is what you consume on social media. Firstly, stay away from pages that make you feel like crap! Use that unfollow button with joy! Secondly, remind yourself that these are the snapshots people want you to see. As a result of the images, you see will be curated, filtered and photoshopped. Remember that no one is perfect despite what it seems like. Finally, surround yourself with people who lift you up and be that for them.

Now that’s my little ramble on the trouble with perfection. Do you struggle with the whole perfection story? I know I do! Share your thoughts, it might help someone.

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